Spraying rack for railway cars



April 22, 1947. J. R. FROHOFF ETAL 2,419,397

SPRAYING RACKS kFR RAILWAY CARS Filed Feb. 26, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l nventor JohnRFrolzo'f and Infzefhi Glasmann J. R. FRoHor-'F Erm. 2,419,397

Filed Feb. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SPRAYING RACKS FOR RAILWAY CARS April 22, 1947.

(Ittornegs API'll 22 1947- J. R. FRoHoFF ETAL 2,419,397

SPRAYING RACKS FOR RAIL-WAY CARS Filed Feb. 26, 1944 34 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gttcrucgs STEAM SUPPLY .srEA/w RE) URN Patented Apr. 22, 1947 OFFICE 2,419,397 SPRAYING RACK FOR RAILWAY CARS John R. Frohoff and Kenneth J. Glasmann,

Denver, Colo.

Application February 26, 1944, Serial No. 524,140

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for removing grease and paint from railway rolling stock.

The practice of stripping grease and paint by the use of sprays of hot alkaline solutions is known. The invention provides an inexpensive structure suited to this use, which conserves substantially all the solution for reuse, protects the operators while permitting them full control of the sprays, provides for cleaning the under parts of the running gear, and requires much less manual labor than do prior art devices for the contemplated purpose.

The device may be used to clean passenger oars, tank cars, various types vof freight cars, locomotives and locomotive tenders. -It can opererate on all parts of the longest vehicle at one time and the sprays are arranged in units so that each unit may be set to treat to best advantage the particular part of the vehicle opposite to each unit. Individual units may be shut down. Further the bottom sprays are divided into successive `sections or units, considered along the length of the vehicle, and each such section may be shut down individually, or operated at any desired ow rate, independently of the others. y

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation looking from within the enclosure at one of the spray units and showing the adjusting handle and the unit-controlling valve.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure 4 and on a larger scale than Figures 4 and 5 showing one of the spray nozzles in place.

Figure '7 is a transverse section through the bottom-washing spray pipe showing two nozzles.

Figure 8 is a schematic plan of the screening and heating tank to which sprayed stripping liquid drains, and in which it is conditioned for reuse.

The track rails I I, for the length of the device are imbedded in a concrete base I2 forming a liquid retaining basin pitched toward crossdrains I3, two of which are shown and any suitable number of which may be used. These l Z drains deliver by way of a drain I4 to the reconditioning tank indicated in Fig 2 at, I5, and shown in greater detail in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 8 the tank I5 is divided by a vertical longitudina1 partition I6 so as to form a U-shaped flow path. The liquid entering from. I4 flows over two weirs Il and I8 designed to intercept the larger solids. Then it flows through a series of vertical screens 2l, 22, 23 and 24 which may be graduated as to mesh, say 4-mesh, 8-mesh, l2mesh and lf3-mesh, respectively. Heating pipes IS are located along the sides of the tank as indicated.

Thence the liquid passes through a 12-mesh screen 25 to the storage part of the tank. In the bottom of the storage portion are further heating coils 26 in compartments divided by vertical screens 21, 28, and 29 which desirably are graduated from 14mesh to l-mesh. Finally the liquid passes through a screened intake 3l closed valve 36 (Fig. 2) which may be opened to drain the manifold and all connected spray piping back to the tank I5 when the device is not in use.

Welded to the manifold 34 along each side of the track are a series of riser pipes 3l. These are vertical through most of their height but are bent inward (i. e. toward the track) near their tops as indicated at` 38. Their extreme upper ends are plugged.

The riser pipes serve also as supporting structural members and are braced by struts 33, cross members 4I and two decks 42.

Bridging the intervals between the risers 3l and swiveled by means of unions on nipples welded to the vrisers are spray pipes 43. The swivel nipple 44 at one end is blind and that at the other end includes a valve 45 used to control ow from the adjacent riser 31 to the corresponding spray pipe 43. II'hree horizontal rows of such spray pipes are shown, the pipes in the various rows being alined, and each being provided with a row of spray nozzles 46.

The nozzles may be inexpensively formed :from pipe plugs, by cutting away the usual wrench grip to form an inclined deflecting surface 41 toward which a drilled port 48 is directed. Any suitable nozzles may be substituted.

To swivel theV spray pipes handles 49 are welded thereto.

To conserve sprayed liquid, brace the risers and protect operatives, sheathing walls are attached to the outer sides of the risers. There is an access door 50 behind each spray pipe 43. These doors are hinged at their lower edges and are so located that they need be opened through only a comparatively small angle to give access to valves 45 and handles 49. When so opened the doors still protect the operatives from spray. Splash Iboards 60 are hinged in sections along the tops of the sheathing and may be swung back to afford clearance for entering rolling stock.

A spray pipe divided into sections 52 extends along the base at the center of the track. The sections each carry splayed pairs of spray-nozzles 53, 54. The supply of liquid to each section 52 is controlled by a valve 55 accessible outside the sheathing. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

Ladders are provided, as shown to afford access to the decks.

They valve handles 56 (Fig. 1) are to actuate,v

drain valves 51 by means of Vwhich diierent portions of tank I5 may be drained to a sewer or the like. The connections are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To use the device, a car or locomotive is moved into the stall while the splash boards 60 are swung back to assure plenty of clearance. After the vehicle is positioned the splash boards are positioned and the pump 32 is put into operation as soon as solution is suitably heated. Some or all of the spray pipes 43 and bottom spray sections 52 may be put into action by manipulating valves 45 and 55. The doors 50 permit adjustment of the pipes 43 and observation of results, while 'spraying continues. y

Thus the entire *vehicle may be quickly cleaned of paint and grease preparatory to repair, `re painting or other treatment. f

Whatisclaimed is:

1. In a spraying device for rolling stock, the combination of a basin-forming base provided with liquid drains; side walls enclosing a passageway for the rolling stock to -be treated, said walls being provided with rows of doorways; decks external to said walls aiording access by personnel to said doorways; doors normally closing said doorways; a plurality of'swiveled, nozzles 4 carrying` pipes; valves controlling said pipes, and means for swiveling said pipes each accessible through said doorways; and means for delivering hot liquid under pressure to said spray pipes under control of said valves.

2. In a spraying device for rolling stock, the combination of a basin-forming base provided with liquid drains; side walls enclosing a pas` sageway `for the rolling stock to be treated, said walls being provided with rows of doorways; decks external to said walls affording access by personnel to said doorways; doors normally closing said doorways; a plurality of swiveled, nozzlecarrying pipes; valves controlling said pipes, and means for swiveling said pipes each accessible through said doorways; means for delivering hot liquid under pressure to said spray pipes under control of said valves; and a series of spray deflectors, hinged to the top edge of each wall, and independently shiftable from an outward inactive position to an inward position in which they overhang a portion of said passageway.

3. In a spraying device :for rolling stock, the combination of a basin-forming base provided with liquid drains; side walls enclosing a pas-l sageway for the rolling stock to be treated, said walls being provided with horizontal rows of doorways; a plurality of swiveled nozzle carrying pipes adjacent respective doorways; valves con trolling iiow to said pipes, and means for swiveling said pipes each accessible through the adjacent doorway; doors one for each doorway eachv hinged along its lower edge and arranged to open outward, whereby each door when partially open` aiords protection while affording access to said valves and swiveling means; and means for delivering hot liquid under pressure'to said spray pipes under the control of said valves.

JOI-IN R. FROHOFF. KENNETH J. GLASMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,250,238 Smith July 22, 1941 1,122,018 McIntosh Dec. 22, 1914 1,748,161 Whitemore Feb. 25, 1930 1,907,411 Timoney May 2, 1933 1,682,902 Gibson Sept. 4, 1928 .866,197 Cunningham July 5, 1932 v1,872,507 Saunders et al Aug. 16, 1932 

